Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Celebrating 10 athletes with ties to Alabama for National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Reading time: 7 minutes
Wednesday, Feb. 5 marks the 39th year of the official National Girls and Women in Sports Day. And we’re celebrating by recognizing some of our favorite athletes with ties to the state of Alabama.
This list includes some of the most well-known Olympians to some high school stars you need to know about it.
All of these athletes have a long list of accomplishments while simultaneously fighting a system that has historically made things more difficult for women. Today, and every day, is an opportunity to recognize those who have fought to come this far while understanding the hurdles that still need to be torn down.
So let’s dive in as we recognize 10 women who have ties to our state, starting with the first woman ever to be inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Leah Marie Rawls Atkins, waterskiing
Leah Atkins was Alabama’s first Water Skiing World Champion, dominating the sport from 1951 to 1958.
At age 16, her first year competing, she won first place overall at the Ontario Championships in South Hampton, Canada. In 1953, she won the Water Skiing World Championship in Toronto.
She went on to establish records and win championships, both nationally and internationally. Atkins earned her masters and doctorate degrees from Auburn University and was the first woman to be inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Ace Austin, basketball + volleyball
A name that current high school sports fans will be very familiar with, Ace Austin has turned heads at a national level. She is still in high school but her list of accomplishments already includes:
- 2024 Miss Basketball
- 2024 Alabama MaxPreps Player of the Year
- 2024 Gatorade Alabama Girls Basketball Player of the Year
- 3x basketball state champion
- 2x volleyball state champion
Austin is considered a 4-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN, being considered one of the most highly-touted girls basketball recruits in Alabama history.
DeWanna Bonner, basketball
Her number is hanging in the rafters on The Plains for good reason.
DeWanna Bonner had a stellar career with the Auburn Tigers, winning the 2009 SEC Player of the Year before being selected fifth overall in the WNBA Draft. She is still Auburn’s all-time leader in total points scored, second in minutes played and second in total rebounds.
But it’s also about her career after leaving the program. During her professional career, Bonner’s accolades have included:
- 2x WNBA Champion
- 6x WNBA All-Star
- 3x WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year
The Fairfield native was a McDonald’s All-American in 2005 and I think it’s safe to say, she has lived up to the hype.
Alice Coachman, high jump
Coachman wasn’t born in Alabama but she moved into the state to attend Tuskegee Prep School when she was 16. She was already gaining attention for her athletic ability but the move helped her find a bigger spotlight.
She went on to graduate with a degree in dressmaking from the Tuskegee Institute in 1946. Doing that while keeping her training schedule, which would pay off just a couple of years later.
In 1948, Coachman became the first Black woman to ever win a gold medal at the Olympics. She broke a 16-year-old record then cleared 5 feet and 6 inches to win gold.
Vonetta Flowers, bobsledding
Vonetta Flowers was born in Birmingham, far from any kind of professional bobsledding training. She was a sprinter and long jumper at UAB but in an attempt to become an Olympian, she turned to the unique winter competition.
In 2002, Flowers became the first Black athlete from any country to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
Flowers was elected to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Gerritt Griggs, football + softball
If you’re familiar with our website, you’ve certainly already heard of the name Gerritt Griggs. It’s hard to not talk about the accomplishments of her and the Central-Phenix City flag football team.
Now, she’s gotten awards at a national level while taking on the role of a trailblazer in a sport rapidly growing.
But Griggs has also already accomplished plenty on the softball diamond as well, getting set to begin her collegiate era under coach Patrick Murphy in Tuscaloosa. Expect to see an even longer list of accolades for Griggs before her athletic career is over.
Mia Hamm, soccer
Soccer has certainly grown in the state of Alabama but before that growth happened, Mia Hamm was helping the sport gain national attention during her time with the US Women’s National Team.
Not many people know her connection to the state but Hamm was born in Selma. She didn’t stick around in the state very long, moving with her family to various Air Force bases around the world.
Hamm’s playing career included:
- 4x NCAA Champion
- 2x Olympic gold medalist
- 2x Women’s World Cup champion
She ranks fourth in US Soccer history for international caps (276) and first for career assists (144).
Suni Lee, gymnastics
Suni Lee may be the most recognized name on this list, at least on an international level. She didn’t spend a ton of time in our state but she certainly made an impact, especially on Auburn University and its gymnastics program.
Lee spent two seasons with the Tigers, finishing her collegiate career with:
- 8 perfect 10.0 scores
- National + SEC champion on Balanced Beam
- National runner-up in all-around
- SEC Freshman of the Year
Her performances and her presence helped bring more energy + excitement to the Auburn program, the kind of gymnastics hype that was often previously reserved for the Tigers’ cross-state rival in Tuscaloosa.
Of course, Lee is known mostly for her accomplishments in the Olympics. She has six total medals including an all-around gold in 2020 and a team gold in 2024.
Haylie McCleney, softball
There’s a long list of players who could be the Alabama softball representative on this list but it’s hard to pick against McCleney’s career.
McCleney has a long list of accomplishments on the diamond, stretching from her days at Mortimer Jordan High School to playing at the Olympics.
Her high school career including the highest batting average for a single season in AHSAA history (.692) + she ranks top five in career consecutive steals (137) and career batting average (.587).
At Alabama, McCleney added to her resume with three appearances in the Women’s College World Series while being named a first-team All-American three times. The outfielder still holds program records for:
- Highest batting average (.447)
- Highest on-base percentage (.569)
- Most triples (16)
She also won a silver medal with Team USA in the 2020 Olympics and a gold medal during the 2022 World Games in Birmingham.
Dannette Young-Stone, track
A 2013 inductee of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Dannette Young-Stone made her name known on the track when she was at Alabama A&M. During her time with the Bulldogs, she lost just one race.
Her accomplishments included:
- 13x All-American
- 3x national champion in the 100m
- 3x national champion in the 200m
Her collegiate success would spring her to the Olympics where she won a gold medal in 1988 as a member of the 4×100 relay team. She also helped Team USA win silver in the 4×400 relay in 1992.
Do you have a favorite athlete you’re celebrating for National Girls and Women in Sports Day? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, Facebook + LinkedIn.
